I know I wrote a lot of words today. I just feel like I have to say it all.

The way that I’m gonna start this off is by first telling you the way that I am not gonna start it off. Which is: talking about Kate Middleton’s boobies. You really think I’m gonna throw that kinda thing in your face on a MONDAY AFTERNOON? Please- I am not that crass. I do not hurl nakedness at you on just any day of the week. I hurl sex stuff at you only on Tuesday through Friday and sometimes Saturday. Which means I’m waiting until tomorrow to talk about Kate Middleton’s chest being photographed/published/seen by the world entirely without her permission.

Hey. I bet you think I’m angry- I’m not! I get why you would, but seriously I promise, not angry. In fact I’m ~100% sure you’ll be SHOCKED by my feelings on the matter.

So. What the F Word am I trying to say TODAY, you may be impatiently wondering.

Well it’s this: I know people tend to hate it (me included) when a blogger apologizes on their own blog. Like when they say stuff like: “I’m sorry I’ve been a bit less talkative lately; it’s not that I mean to, I don’t mean to neglect my beloved friendlies, it’s that I just can’t believe how much effing stuff there is to do these days, but I promise I’m working on getting everything more organized/squared away/other bullshit! promise!”

Well… that’s essentially me right now, that quote, being said to you. In fact it came it right out my mouth, so bing bang boom, I’m the blogger apologizer of the week. I’m feeling kinda guilty and I want to explain it to you, because I’m really good at feeling guilty and also feeling like I should explain myself (<== probably a bad quality)

1. We never anticipated how much life would go into house hunting. The SHEER TIME it takes, and the way it makes you Jedi Mind Focus on the hunting of the houses. It’s like all we ever think about/discuss with one another. We have each spoken the phrases “crumbling foundation” and “septic system standards” more times in the last three weeks than we have in our entire lives, combined. For example, I originally wanted to do two posts today. But then surprise house stuff hit this weekend and we’ve been occupied by that that-ness through to this afternoon. We need to take a break from house hunting.

2. It has become f**king ridiculous how much I have allowed myself to have on my plate running this blog. I say “how much I have allowed” because I know myself to be a terrible delegator and so I habitually force myself to believe that I can handle every part of the growth that comes with running your own business, no matter how much gets piled on and no matter how much new stuff there is to do. Would you believe- I have actually doubted in recent times whether or not I have room for birthing/raising children, and if I should even have them, due to the ever-increasing workload I insist on managing mostly by myself. That is crazy talk – I can’t let my unwillingness to delegate tasks determine whether I have kids! I’m glad that I’m realizing it now and that I’m going to do something about it, but I should have done this “Something” more than a year ago. I’ve found that I cannot work round the clock; it impacts my creativity and physical energy. ANYWHO I won’t bore you with the details of how many emails I get in a day; it is simply that it is officially too many now. Officially. It’s really kind of infuriating- feeling like you know you’re uncomfortable delegating tasks in your life, while simultaneously knowing that you no longer can single-handedly, umm, handle (for lack of a better word) 100% of your own business’s workload. Ay caramba, I’m boring you. I definitely am.

Ok, just–please don’t get me wrong. Despite my complaints, I am thrilled that my dilemma is due to my business growing. This is my dream for it, so to see it grow is my obvious goal. The problem is that my heart beats out of my chest every single night when I try to go to bed, because I can’t shut off my brain. I stay up thinking and worrying about whether I’ve handled everything I needed to, and how behind I am on the millions of post-it notes that decorate this room like some sort of Crafty Infants edition of TLC’s Trading Spaces. I constantly worry if I’ve answered enough emails. I actually stay up later than Honey to respond to emails quite more often than I wish to. I get so concerned that it affects my writing. I also know I’m missing opportunities. And I hate that.

So I’m doing something about it. Finally. Look for the official announcement on the blog later this week.

Nessa of Nessa K Photography is not only really awesome, like as a person in the world, but she submits effing lovely and poignant weddings to me and I dig that. For example: click here to see one of the most popular posts here on the blog, which featured some shots from another wedding she submitted way back, because it just sorta worked perfectly with the message I was trying to express to the world that day. But anyway, a week or so ago she did something else – something even more delightful than the other stuff. She tweeted a video.

But not just any video – a video I really, really dig like so much, and hadn’t experienced in a decade. You may remember it if you’re as old as I am. Which is *COUGH COUGH* years old. I decided to include it in this post today, because I just loved watching and listening to it again and I’m going to make a point of listening to regularly so as not to forget any of the advice.

There’s a lot of miscrediting that goes around re: who wrote the words recited in the song, so I just wanted to spell out all the proper info, if anyone’s ever wondered: Australian film director Baz Luhrmann had voice actor Lee Perry recite words from “Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young,” a Chicago Tribune essay written by Mary Schmich, in ’97.

Note: Nessa tweeted the normal/original version but personally I’m partial to the version below, because it features one of my favorite songs from the Romeo + Juliet movie soundtrack, “Everybody’s Free (To Feel Good).” This was of course back when movies were kind of inventive and cool and actually had cool messages. Also Leonardo DiCaprio was in it. Also I had a huge (borderline obsessive) crush on Leonardo DiCaprio. Also- anyone have the exact coordinates of his current home address and most-frequented vacation spots/where he does his laundry?

Yeah so anyway the song (the actual song in the background, not the talking advice part) is sung by Quindon Tarver. Kid has one of the most angelic voices I have ever heard in all my years of listening to music. Oh wow ok I just checked and he is 30 now. WOW.

S**t am I that old? F**k.

Of course, I realize that it’s safe to assume most of you are currently (taking a mini break from) working, but can’t exactly take a moment to enjoy a music video out loud on company time. I remember those days. Wouldn’t it be great if employers understood the benefit of listening to/watching music videos? I think I’d get 10x the stuff I got done on a daily basis working in a cubicle if I couldn’t rocked to some tunes every once in a while throughout the day. But enough about me– below are the lyrics if you’re interested in seeing them written out, and don’t have time for the vid. (Feel free to copy and paste elsewhere if you want to share the message – no need to credit me, just be sure to credit the Baz Luhrmann and Mary Schmich.)

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.
The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.
I will dispense this advice now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth.
Oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.
But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.
You’re not as fat as you imagine.
Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum.
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing everyday that scares you.
Sing.
Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss.
Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.
Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch.
Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives,
some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.
Get plenty of calcium.
Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.
Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…
what ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s.
Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Son’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it. It’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own.
Dance. Even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.
Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.
Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good.
Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and
lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths–
prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don’t expect anyone else to support you.
Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.
Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you’re 40, it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but– be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth. But trust me on the sunscreen…

Take it away, Nessa K! I like rhyming.

On a final note: The bride, Lucy, had been concerned that this gorgeous pink flower in her hair…

… might actually be a bit too non-traditional for her Big Day.

So she and Nessa figured out a fun way for have her cake and eat it, too.

……. wanna know what she decided to do? Just check out what Nessa had to share on the lovely couple, below:

“You can tell that Lucy and Dorian are made for each other from the moment you meet them. The way they smile at each otehr and how sweet they are with each other when they think you’re not looking just melts your heart. Their wedding day was one filled with one heck of a lot of love… and a lot of travel, as a lot of their guests had flown from all around the world to be their for their big day. It’s a testament to how lovely these two are that so many people flew from half way around the world to share this special day with them. Their day was one filled with gorgeous light, some tears, more laughs and lot of crazy dancing.

A bit on the details: I loved her pink details with butterflies and I know she has a love for fields and wide open places. I knew their wedding photos were important to them because they opted for a pre-wedding session as bride and groom instead of an engagement session. She loves pink and also wanted to wear the pink flower, but thought it would be overwhelmingly non-traditional on her wedding day, so she wore it for our session together instead :)

Thank you to Lucy and Dorian for having me be a part of their gorgeous wedding day!”

What do you think of that Baz Luhrmann video? What would you say are the best bits of advice? Also, what is some of the best advice you’ve gotten in life? I’d really love to hear.

Also, how lovely is this wedding? I dig it hardcore.

xoxo - Alison

Stay tuned this week for that announcement. And obviously I promise it won’t be some self-aggrandizing bullshit about how much of an honor it would be to work forhaha did I say “for?” I totally meant “work with.” We will work together, under my total leadership WHAT? Nothing.

Love all of this...

27 comments

Brittany on September 17, 2012

Stunning wedding, the bride looks lovely. Never considered the red spectrum to be my taste. My mind is changed now.

On the other things you wrote-
It’s like a breath of fresh air whenever I come here. I love your honesty and the personal stories you share. I want you to know that. I can identify with the heart racing before bed stuff, no fun whatsoever. Anyway, so I’m so glad you’re hiring! Can’t wait to see what comes down the pike with a new set of
hands helping you out.

And I’m so glad that you’re the good kind of busy, hiring out is a great sign! You’re the only blog that I actually come back to read now that I’m married (I think being a photographer makes it okay to still read a wedding blog, right?!)

I may be a day late, but this post MADE MY DAY. Between the Royal Bosoms, the exciting announcement about hiring some (horrrrraay!), the best advice ever and all this wedding loveliness, I think the afternoon is looking a lot more wonderful.

For starters – what a stunning wedding – there are so many amazing parts to it and combined, they wow! For the rest, everyone needs helps at somepoint, it is brilliant you have got to that place although it is a hard tipping point to accept, but to put another spin on it, you have millions to offer someone as an employer, it will be worth it!! And house hunting is sore work…you are doing well just to be a bit under p!!

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